www.sonomacountywater.org
Feasibility Studies for Hydrokinetic Energy in California
Cordel Stillman Deputy Chief
Engineer
Project History
• November 2007 • Board of Supervisors
Directed SCWA to Investigate Wave Energy
• July 7, 2009 • FERC Approves 3
Preliminary Permits • July 6, 2012 • Preliminary Permits End
Project Locations
Del Mar Landing Proj. #13376-000
Fort Ross (North) Proj. #13378-000
Fort Ross (South) Proj. #13377-000
Project Maps Are Not To Scale
Advisory Committee
• Members Include: – Mendocino & Sonoma Counties – PG&E – US Geological Services – UC Davis Bodega Marine Lab – Pacific Coast Federation of
Fishermen – Surfrider Foundation – California Coastal Commission – NOAA – More…
Emerging Technologies
• Magnetic Generator Buoy
• Point Absorber • Pelamis Wave Power
Converter • Other Technologies
Full Scale Pelamis
Issues to be Considered
• Environmental Impacts • Aesthetic Impacts • Economic Impacts • Power Transmission • Cost
Fisheries Issues
• Environmental – Habitat Conversion – EMFs – Noise – Entanglement
• Fishing – Restricted Access (de-facto
reserve) – MLPA Cumulative Impacts
Federal Agencies & Entities • Federal
– Bureau of Land Management – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) – National Environmental Protection Agency (NEPA) – National Marine Fisheries Service – National Marine Sanctuaries – National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration
(NOAA) – U.S. Army Corps of Engineers – U.S. Coast Guard – U.S. Department of Energy – U.S. Fish & Wildlife Services
State Agencies & Entities • State
– California Coastal Commission – California Coastal Conservancy – California Department of Fish & Game – California Energy Commission – California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) – California Marine Life Protection Act – California Ocean Protection Council – California Office of Historic Preservation – California Public Utilities Commission – California State Lands Commission – Central & Northern California Observing System – North Coast Regional Water Quality Control Board
Closing Remarks
• Regulations – Many Agencies and
Entities
• Funding – Marine Research
Expensive
• FERC Process – 3-Year Permit Not
Enough Time
www.sonomacountywater.org
Feasibility Studies for Hydrokinetic Energy in California
Cordel Stillman Deputy Chief Engineer